Name: Tianling Zhu
# MVP 3 “The leftover women” in China
According to the article “Long road to adulthood is growing even longer” published in New York Times, a new period of life is emerging, a period that refers to the time between adolescents and adults and lasts longer, meaning that nowadays more and more people become independent later than before. As far as I’m concerned, among the many influential factors of resulting in this phenomenon, further education and late marriage might be the most two contributing ones. It reminded me that in China, this phenomenon is more amplified in women, and those who remained unmarried after 27 are called “leftover women”.
Decades ago, Chinese women got married around 22 because they didn’t need to receive much education so they finished school very early and then got married; however, nowadays, the average age of marriage for women is 26 since independence has become an essential part to define a “successful woman”, and with the increasing number of woman pursuing higher degree of education and career, it takes longer for women to reach adulthood—being married or financially independent. It is not uncommon that most of women who are either attending schools or working at late twenties or early thirties still rely on their parents, financially and emotionally. Just like me, most of my friends are taking a master degree either abroad or in China spending our parents’ money, which to some extent makes us feel frustrated considering the fact that we are already over 22, not 18, but still not independent, taking less responsibility and enjoying being protected by parents.
Obviously, women spend more time getting educated, pursuing better job, and improving social status, in consequence, they marry much later and more or less depend on parents until get married. Being a “leftover woman” is like a double-edged sword, on the one hand, it means women are chasing their own career and making effort to realize their dreams; on the other hand, they require more support from their parents and remain dependent longer.
Hi Tianling,
I really liked your post/comments about the “Long Road to Adulthood is Getting Even Longer” and how you compared it to yourself. I guess what really caught my eye about your post was the title “Leftover Women.” I never thought of being labeled as that could have a marginalizing impact and as you said it’s a “double edge sword” for women in particular. It’s one of those things where if you do “you’re damned” and if you don’t “you’re still damned.” I think that is one of the greatest struggles of being a female in today’s society is how more and more women are trying to gain that independence as well as still abiding by their role as a wife or caretaker. I’m hoping in the next few decades China’s mind will change and be more understanding and open to women who want to pursue a master’s degree won’t be penalized for it.